Really fun game last night. Other than RJ's two bricked crunch time free throws, he had a great 4th quarter. 4 3s overall last night on 6 attempts. He's at 34% from distance which is steadily getting him out of non shooter territory. In fact, since Jan 1 he's shooting 39% from 3 which is decidedly a threat from distance.
Frank with another big time defensive play to seal the win. The story stays the same, if he can find a way to contribute on offense he'll get minutes. He's definitely jumped Rivers in the rotation, and if Elfrid gets traded at the deadline looks like he'll find regular time.
I someone still don't think is being made enough about Julius Randle's turnaround. The Knicks took a PF 8th overall this season because I would assume -- like literally everybody else without the last name Randle -- that they thought Julius would be gone after the year. He was a ball hog, a poor defender, an average shooter, an iffy leader. Fast forward one offseason and literally every night he is leading them in a number of categories and showing something new. Last night he held Sabonis to 15 points including a prayer banked 3 with 30 seconds left (Noel helped at the end due to foul woes) and had 4 steals. One of the most remarkable year over year turnarounds I've ever seen to be honest, and I don't think that's hyperbole. I'm actually curious if anyone can bring up some similar situations in the past, even across sports.
And then that leads into the Knicks as a team. 4th overall in the east. Still only .500, but coming into the year the question was "which top 5 guy makes the most sense in this loaded draft". Now they're on pace to pick around 20th. This is another situation I just don't remember there being another clear parallel for. Expected complete bottom dweller in the NBA turns into potential home court advantage team in the playoffs. It's a really fun group to watch too. The bench is active and gets hyped, they seem to love playing with each other. It's a really fun team to watch. I have friends from out of state texting me stuff about the Knicks for the first time in forever. Really did not see this as in the realm of possibilities this year, but wow what a pleasant surprise.
Going to be a sneaky tough game against the Pistons. Have to travel to Detroit, Taj is probably unlikely to play, and Noel just played 41 minutes. I really think they should consider bringing up Skal Labissiere from Westchester, who at least has played NBA minutes before and waiving Harper. I bet Obi gets more burn as well. Should be a fun one against a beatable team but with some challenges.
Randle, Noel and Toppin cna be the 3 rotating bigs and maybe knox gets a few minutes..
Frank and Quickley are going to be big tonight becajse Rose may be a little gassed from playing 38 minutes last night..
Tonight the bench needs to come in and dominate, they should have fresh legs..
Oh and Randle is turning into not only an all star but star player for this team.
The fans were annoying chanting MVP for Randle, Rose, and Barrett. They get a pass though because they are still in preseason form. Lol
Isn't Knox a permanent bench warmer and trade bait at this point?
It’s long been exaggerated, the IQ of the fans. But an MVP chant isnt really indicative of that. That’s just fans showing appreciation.
not to mention everytime they do it thebplayer misses a free throw
That's when I remember them but they were only for guys who turned our team around. They weren't used for multiple players especially during the same game. I know the fans were just having fun and showing their appreciation.
He was right in front of us all along. We just didn’t know it. Thibs is a godsend. I only pray MSG / Dolan doesn’t ruin him like they’ve ruined others. The mgmt team here seems to really have a good grip on things.
That team was further along than this one. You had vets Ewing, Xman and Oakley. This team has Randle, Noel and Rose. That team had younger players like Starks, Mason and greg Anthony. This team has IQ, RJB, Mitch and Obi. That team has some cap space coming and some picks. They turned that into Charles Smith, Doc Rivers, Rolando Blackmon and Derrick Harper. Much Later they traded mason for LJ. Signed Houston. Traded Oak for Camby.
What will this team and regime do? They have more picks than that 91 team had, but less pre-existing star power. This team also has more cap space.
The pillars of nba team building:
Cap space
Young talent that has proven it belongs
Draft capital
Good front office
Good coaching
** and it’s winning games as constituted**
^^^ we have never been in this spot before. Never have we seen this franchise stand on all 4-5 pillars of foundational building like we see here today.
Good times ahead I believe.
That team was further along than this one. You had vets Ewing, Xman and Oakley. This team has Randle, Noel and Rose. That team had younger players like Starks, Mason and greg Anthony. This team has IQ, RJB, Mitch and Obi. That team has some cap space coming and some picks. They turned that into Charles Smith, Doc Rivers, Rolando Blackmon and Derrick Harper. Much Later they traded mason for LJ. Signed Houston. Traded Oak for Camby.
What will this team and regime do? They have more picks than that 91 team had, but less pre-existing star power. This team also has more cap space.
The pillars of nba team building:
Cap space
Young talent that has proven it belongs
Draft capital
Good front office
Good coaching
** and it’s winning games as constituted**
^^^ we have never been in this spot before. Never have we seen this franchise stand on all 4-5 pillars of foundational building like we see here today.
Good times ahead I believe.
That was more than 21 years ago. It seems like an eternity. Lol.
We’re pretty much in uncharted territory here.
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Knicks hired Riley. 51-31 record and a gritty and proud but heartbreaking 7 game series loss to the bulls later, they had arrived.
That team was further along than this one. You had vets Ewing, Xman and Oakley. This team has Randle, Noel and Rose. That team had younger players like Starks, Mason and greg Anthony. This team has IQ, RJB, Mitch and Obi. That team has some cap space coming and some picks. They turned that into Charles Smith, Doc Rivers, Rolando Blackmon and Derrick Harper. Much Later they traded mason for LJ. Signed Houston. Traded Oak for Camby.
What will this team and regime do? They have more picks than that 91 team had, but less pre-existing star power. This team also has more cap space.
The pillars of nba team building:
Cap space
Young talent that has proven it belongs
Draft capital
Good front office
Good coaching
** and it’s winning games as constituted**
^^^ we have never been in this spot before. Never have we seen this franchise stand on all 4-5 pillars of foundational building like we see here today.
Good times ahead I believe.
That was more than 21 years ago. It seems like an eternity. Lol.
Christ it was 29 years ago. My math and sense of rounding up or down sucks.
Yea plus I think Thibs was growing further and further removed from that bulls team he built and forged. People forget how good he was in Chicago.
I give him a mulligan on his time in Minnesota. He had players (KAT, Wiggins, etc.) who were/are a complete sieve on defense. His time in Chicago was really good. That '11-'12 Bulls team would have given Miami a run for their $ if Rose doesn't tear his ACL in the 1st round.
I thought we have 3 games left (2 against Detroit) before the ASB?
He has smiled a lot this year. Seems more at peace. Randle certainly is. You can see Julius oozing that whole inner peace quality.
No, no, no.
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Thibs is open to a reunion with Towns, Knicks monitoring situation
No, no, no.
agreed!!!
lonk - ( New Window )
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because they wanted all the young players to play and they thoight the team would be terrible and the Knicks could tank again..
Yea plus I think Thibs was growing further and further removed from that bulls team he built and forged. People forget how good he was in Chicago.
I was one of the most vocal against Tibs (I was wrong obviously)
My fear was some of what we see with Elf and Bullock in the starting lineup night after night.
Difference is he has managed minutes better and Randle has basically made Obi irrelevant.
Everything has broke right and Tibs looks like a hero.
Also this team has bought into the defense first attitude.
He wants to be in Miami which kills Houston options to get something for him
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2 years 45 million from Houston
He wants to be in Miami which kills Houston options to get something for him
Good. As long as he’s nowhere near NY
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In comment 15163720 nygiants16 said:
Quote:
2 years 45 million from Houston
He wants to be in Miami which kills Houston options to get something for him
Good. As long as he’s nowhere near NY
Absolutely!!!